Coronavirus Updates for the Seneca Chamber Community
Greetings Chamber Community,

First and foremost, thank you to all of the brave men and women on the front-lines of the Coronavirus pandemic. From County Health Department leaders to doctors, nurses and home health aides -- we greatly appreciate the effort to help keep our community healthy and vibrant.

As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to alter our normal state, the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing the latest information for business professionals.

We have gathered some useful information and resources to help your business or family plan for and deal with this ongoing situation. As more information becomes available, we will continue to update our website ( www.senecachamber.org) and social media ( facebook/DiscoverSeneca).
List of Chamber Food & Beverage Businesses that remain open for take-out/delivery:
Coronavirus is taking a toll on our economy and the small businesses that make it work. Restaurants, Bars, Breweries, Distilleries, Cideries, Wineries (and others) continue to be faced with unprecedented governance (ex. take-out only) -- PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THESE LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS. We must band together to help our business community.

Note - As we receive more information/confirmation from our Chamber members -- we will continue to update this list on Social Media and our Website (please email us if your name is not included and we will add you to the list):

  • Café XIX (Seneca Falls) - (315) 568-1183, both curbside and walk-in take out for food, pastries and coffee.
  • Sauders Country Store (Seneca Falls) - (315) 568-2673, take out only for café.
  • Connies Diner (Waterloo) - (315) 539-9556, take out and free delivery (Full menu) Tuesday-Sunday 11am-8pm.
  • Red’s Place (Seneca Falls)- (315) 568-9124, take out alcohol only
  • Thirsty Owl Bistro (Ovid) - (607) 869-5805, winery only doing curbside wine take-out. No Customers allowed inside winery. Bistro closed.
  • Ciccino's Pizzeria & Restaurant (Waterloo) - (315) 539-1064,take-out/delivery.
  • Magee Country Diner - (Tyre) (315) 539-0214, takeout menu available.
  • Dano's Heuriger on Seneca (Lodi) - (607) 582-7555, takeout available Friday: 4-7:30, Saturday: 12-7:30 and Sunday 12-6:00.
  • Downtown Deli (Seneca Falls) - (315) 568-9943, takeout and delivery.
  • Three Brothers Wineries & Estates (Geneva) - (315) 585-4432
  • Boundary Breaks Vineyard (Lodi) - (607) 474-5030
  • Buttonwood Grove Winery (Romulus) - (607) 869-9760
  • Fall Street Brewing (Seneca Falls) - (315) 569-8332
  • Finger Lakes Cider House (Interlaken) - (607) 351-3313
  • Fleur de Lis Brew Works (Seneca Falls) - (315) 665-BEER
  • Knapp Winery (Romulus) - (607) 930-3495
  • Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars (Lodi) - (607) 582-6011
  • Lucas Vineyards (Interlaken) - (607) 532-4825
  • Montezuma Winery (Seneca Falls) - (315) 568-8190
  • Sheldrake Point Winery (Ovid) - (607) 532-9401
  • Ventosa Vineyards (Geneva) - (315) 719-0000
  • Wagner Vineyards Winery (Lodi) - (607) 582-6450
  • Zugibe Vineyards (Geneva) - (315) 585-6402
Note About Coronavirus Scam Websites:
It’s becoming clear that with everyone wanting to be up to date on the coronavirus, people are trying to take advantage. There are several websites out there claiming to be the Johns Hopkins coronavirus live map, but they are really injecting malware into your PC. Please, only use the official Johns Hopkins map that is found at: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Information on Financial Support Available for Businesses Affected by Coronavirus:
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer Small Businesses impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) up to $2 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance (EIDL).

Under our EIDL program, the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

All applications are being processed online only at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

Quick Facts:
  • The Disaster Loan Assistance is being made available to states/territories that have requested eligibility for the program (and made an application). At this time, New York State has completed an application but only select counties downstate are currently eligible (Dutchess, Putmnam, Westchester). Additional counties are expected to be cleared in the coming days.
  • SBA advises interested businesses in areas not currently eligible to begin the process by completing the necessary steps to setup an account.
  • The program provides low-interest loans (up to $2 million) to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue that they are experiencing.
  • The interest-rate for small businesses without credit available elsewhere is 3.75% (businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible for this program). The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
  • These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the impact of Coronavirus.
  • There is an automatic 1-year deferment of re-payment. Interest begins to accrue when cash is dispersed.
  • Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower's ability to repay, but can go up to a maximum of 30 years.
  • Click here to get a copy of SBA’s Official Press Release and Fact Sheet.
Resources for Impacted Employees:
NYS is waiving the 7-Day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for people who are out of work due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) closures or quarantines.

Unemployment Insurance is temporary income for eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. To collect benefits, you must be ready, willing, and able to work, and actively looking for work during each week in which you are claiming benefits.

For Information on how to file or help with filing, please consult the New York State Department of Labor website https://www.ny.gov/services/get-unemployment-assistance

or call: (888) 209-8124
Health Insurance Updates on Coronavirus:
Effective immediately, Excellus BCBS will implement the following benefit changes:

  • Prior authorizations will be waived for diagnostic tests and for covered services that are medically necessary and consistent with CDC guidelines for members if diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Coverage of medically necessary diagnostic tests that are consistent with CDC guidance related to COVID-19 at no cost share to the member.
  • During the duration of the state of emergency, all telemedicine visits will be covered in full (members will have no cost share while this is in effect).
  • Members will have coverage with no out-of-pocket expense to them, for in-network provider office visits, in-network urgent care visits and emergency room visits resulting in testing for COVID-19. If an in-network provider is not available, the Health Plan will cover testing at an out-of-network provider with no out-of-pocket expense to the member.
  • Members with high deductible health plans will not be responsible for co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) related testing even if the deductible has not been met, under new guidance from the Internal Revenue Service. This also means that an individual with an HDHP that covers these costs may continue to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).
Known Coronavirus Legislation Being Proposed for Small Business Relief
NYS - Small Business Emergency Recovery Act of 2020
  • Immediately direct the state's settlement reserve fund of $890 million to small businesses;
  • Create a 0% interest loan program dedicated to helping small businesses meet their payroll commitments;
  • Reurpose available tax credits to help the needs of the state's existing small businesses;
  • Use all economic development discretionary funding for existing small businesses within NYS;
  • Move tax deadlines for remittance, business tax and personal income tax ahead 180 days;
  • Suspend all regulatory fees on small businesses for 180 days;
  • Suspend the plastic bag ban for grocery stores for 180 days.

Federal Coronavirus Emergency Bill
  • Free Coronavirus testing for anyone whose doctor says a test is needed.
  • Expansion of Family Medical Leave program to provide paid leave to anyone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus or has family diagnosed with Coronavirus (federal program does not mandate paid leave).
  • Paid Sick Leave - immediately grant 14-days of paid sick leave to be used by those infected or their caregivers or parents whose children school has been closed.
  • Expansion of unemployment benefits for states that experience a 10% increase in unemployment.
  • Additional funds to support food assistance programs and food banks.
  • Require state and local hospitals and nursing facilities to comply with additional health and safety procedures.

Media Assistance
Seneca County Area Shopper is asking ALL businesses to email or facebook their current situation and what they are still able to offer customers. The Shopper will devote a couple pages of their publication to the promotion of these messages FREE OF CHARGE. Deadline is Thursdays at 9:00 am.

To send your message: scashopper1885@gmail.com or

We thank our Chamber Platinum Investors for their generous support of our organization -- enabling us to provide enhanced communication and programming. Please consider them for your business needs.
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315.568.2906      info@senecachamber.org
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